‘autism Cop’ Honored for Educating Law Enforcement on Disorders

ST. PAUL POLICE OFFICER DUBBED THE AUTISM COP HAS A NEW TITLE THIS EVENING. HE'S THE OFFICER OF THE YEAR. HE'S KNOWN FOR HELPING HIS COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND AUTISM AND FOR HELPING PEOPLE WITH AUTISM BETTER UNDERSTAND POLICE OFFICERS. HE WAS OVERCOME WITH EMOTION BY ONE PARTICULAR GROUP WHO SHOWED UP. HEAVEN SENT AND GOD BLESSING TO BRING SAFETY TO OUR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. Reporter: FOR MONTHS DAVONTE'S MOM HAS BEEN SINGING OFFICER ZINK'S PRAISES. HE'S THE ONE THAT TAKES WILL THEM. BRINGS THEM GUMMY BEARS, M & M'S, BRINGS THEM TO MCDONALDS. THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HE HAS BUILT WITH FAMILIES AND THE TRAINING HE'S PROVIDED TO OUR OFFICERS IS INVALUABLE TO ALL. Reporter: AND WITH THAT HE RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED HIS BOSSES PROCLAMATION. NAMING HIM OFFICER OF THE YEAR. IT'S OVERWHELMING. I LIKE TO BE BACK IN THE CORNER IF BE I HAD THE CHOICE. Reporter: HE ASKED HIS HONORED GUESTS TO STAND. THESE ARE THE WOMEN THATTY SERVE RECK NATION FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO. THAT WAS WONDERFUL. FOR ALL OF US PARENTS. NOT JUST ONE BUT FOR ALL OF US. Reporter:ZINK'S PROGRAM DEESCALATES CALLS. ANDING HAVE TWO AUTISTIC CHILDREN HIMSELF AND THEN WORKING WITH ST. PAUL POLICE AND THEN COMING TO DO THE EXTRA WORK AT NIGHT THAT MEANS A LOT TO US. AN OFFICER THAT UNDERSTANDS SOME DUTY CALLS REQUIRE DIFFERENT KIND OF ANSWER. OFFICER ZINK'S CARE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL HE IS HELPING TO LAUNCH IT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. HE HAS EVEN HAD SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES INQUIRE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. HOW COOL. GOOD FOR HIM. HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN DOING THIS? CARE AND A POLICE OFFICER. HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS. EARLY ON HE THOUGHT HE WANTED TO CUT OUT, GET ANOTHER JOB. HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK HE WAS CUT OUT FOR IT. BUT ANOTHER OFFICER TOLD HIM HE WAS EQUIPPED FOR IT AND CLEARLY HE FOUND THAT NICHE WITH THE CARE PROGRAM. ABSOLUTELY. AND CAREER HIGHLIGHT DID HE SAY THIS WAS IT? HE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL.